Abstract Hearing impairments affect more than 6% of the world’s population. Many in the astronomical community likely experience invisible handicaps due to both themselves not being aware of their impairment and due to the prevalence of societal barriers, mainly the widespread cultural dependence on sound. We consider the removal of societal barriers a gold standard in the accommodation of those with hearing impairments. Such accommodations do not make the assumption that the impacted person is deprived of normal functions, but rather that society is at fault through its ideals of normality. In practice, this means that those with hearing impairments should not have to rely on auditory information to partake in astronomical settings. The culturally deaf should be provided access to astronomy in their own signed languages. We highlight that such accommodations may benefit the wider community. We conclude by remembering that deaf astronomers have been behind great discoveries in the history of astronomy, and that diversity is a strength to all.
Marius B. Eide (Fri,) studied this question.